System of selective control



March '18 1924. 1,487,320

J. EATON SYSTEM OF SELECTIVE CONTROL Filed Jan 4. 1922 Inventor:

DY, 137E351 AlBI SIGI-YOR T0 GENEEAL ELECTRIC COM- 1015 NIKKI YORK..

Jenn savor,

ris'zszc earner GFE'ZQE.

OF CONTROL.

Application filed January 4, 159122. Serial No. 526,983

To all r071 om if; may concern.-

Be it known that l. 50*; l' lAilON. a subject of the British Empire,residing 21' Schenectady, coimty of Solieneclady State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of Selective Control, of which the following; is a spe ification.

F I invention relates to an improved solcclive control system whereby desired 1 1 plurality of sepwrato paths from a snpplg-x conductor may be selected and closed at will.

The invention has r in. the control of th direct on of operation ol an. electric vehicle from. a point remote from the vehicle although the invention is not necessarily limited to such use.

One of the obj cts of the invention to provide an arrz ment wherel y anv desired portion of a plurality of separate paths for the current from a single supply conductor may be selected at will by controlling" the potential or" the conductor.

l "up; the invention into QlliGCt, E provi do e-le fro-responsive switch mechani sin for establishing the selected port-ion ot the paths for the current from the supply conductor and control the said switch mechanism by means of an. electro-responsivo means under the control of the potential of the supply conductor. Where the invention need to control an electric vehicle at aremote point the electro-rcsponsive switch mechanism mounted on the vehicle and is used to reverse the driving i or connc lion to thereby reverse the direc ion of open ation of the vehicle. The electro-responsieve selective means may comprise a relay which controls the reversing switch mechanism. This relay may also be mounted on the vehicle and may be provided with means whereby its operation may be under the control oi the potential of the trolley wire supply conductor and the potential of the trolley wire may be controlled at a remote point by any suitable means such a a reversing controller. 'lhns assume that the electric vehicle is at a remote point and it is desired to operate the vehicle eilher forward or rea ticular application verso. Tl'io reversing controller located at the s lOR of the operator is operated in controller is operated in the opposite direction to exclude the resistor so as to cause the vehicle to operatein the reverse direction,

nected to the trolley wire, so that in case the potential of the tr lley wire is above a certain value, thecurrent through the relay winding is such that the relay is magnetically locked in its normal position and the electro-responsive reversing switch mechanism is energized through the relay contacts to connect the vehicle motor to the trolley wire 101 one direction of operation, but in case the potential of the trolley wire is less than the predetermined value, the relay is magnetically operated to energize the electrorcsponsive reversing switch mechanism for the other direction of vehicle operation. The reversing controller may also be used to control the speed of operation of the vehicle after the direction or. operation has been selected by controlling an accelerating resistor in series with the trolley wire. The direction and speed or. operation of the vehicle is thus controlled from a remote point, that'it is not necessary for an operator to ride on th vehicle as is the customary practice.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing wherein I have illustrated in very simplified form a. selective motor control. system which embodies my invention in the control of electric vehicles at a point, remote from the vehicle.

Referring to the drawing, the electric vehicle has not been shown. since that would add nothing to an understanding of the invention. It is intended that the electric vehicle shall be operated back and forth along a track (not shown) by means of the electric motor having an armature 10 and a series field 11. This electric motor is energized from the single trolley wire supply conductor 12 for one or the other direction of operation in response to the operation of the electromagnetic reversing switch mechanism which comprises the double pole electromagnetic switch mechanism or contactor 'ley 16, together with the elect-rim.

is to he controlled at a r 18' for forward operation and the double pole electromagnetic switch mechanism or contactor 14 for reverse operation.

The electro-resgonsive relay is provided for selectively controlling the ener 'i of the electro-responsive reversing mechanism 13 and 1e. 'llis relay p ably of the well. known J series lock-out type which is arranged to be netically held in its biased positit current through the relay v' noi a predetermined value antl to he 1 ly operated to and be inagreticai second position when the CllLl'Q it cl oe relay winding is below a PfctlQllQilllHQ-L value. l he series relay shown on th drawing is a diagrammatic representation or the particular type of ina netic lockout switch which is fully described in the patent to Edwin J. Murphy llo. 1.352 397 dated December 7, 1920. This particular type of series magnetic locl: ut type of switch ha been selected fo the p "of iving an understanding ()1 the or the invention, but I would have i invention is not necessari particular type oi' inagne i The winding of the relay 15 is nornr.

i -a h he i nected to the supply conductor 12, so that the current through the rel rectly responsive to the po; ply conductor. 4

The trolley 16 for the in trio motor, the electroina n t c i reversin switch niechanisin the relay 15 no the trola L connecbe suntions between these pa ts, will all ably mounted. on the electric vchicle note point. controller 1'? is providel for connectingg the trolley wir to the source supply in lieated hy the plus 9 control the initial potential oi? tl conduct or so as to control the so e tion of the selector no or controller 1"? is also provided for contr 1 l. the acceleration and the speed of opera" of the vehicle dr ving inotor. The re i conductor when the reversing contr thrown from its oil position to the left "for effecting a rovers up; operation of the motor vehicle. This res stor is short circu d and excluded from the circuit of the supply conductor when the controller is thrown from the off position to the right so to select for forward operation of the motor vehicle. lhe aeceleratingand speed controlling variable resistor 19 is provided for regulating the current in the supply conductor and the current taken by the vehicle driving motor after the selective relay 15 has operated to 'inotor to the return conductor whi energize the electromagnetic reversing switch mechanism 13 or 1 l for the particular direction of motor vehicle operation desired.

is thus constructed and arranged, and with the parts in. the various positions shown in the drawing, if it is desired to operate the motor vehicle in the forward direction, the reversing controller 1? is turned troi'n its 0 position toward the r ght to its first operative position. The high resistance selector resistor 18 is thereby short circulted and substantially the tull'voltagre o' the source l supply is applied to the trolley wire It will be observed that the winding" of the relay 15 is energized from the trolley wire through a circuit including: the trolley 16. the

ward d rection contactor 13 through. the multiple' paths including the eerie. winding 21 and the winding 22 in the other path through the series field winding 11 of the ch is in dicated ground connection. Because of the fact that substantially full line potential s applied to the trolley wire 12, the ciu'ren hrough the winding of the selector relay 15 he such that the relay will he iii-agncfl cally locked in its biased position that in vhich the winding of the direction contactor 3 is energized from the supply conductor. l his relay is designer so as to be very quickly responsive to the potential of the trolley e, but in this case since the trolley wire at substantially full source of supply potential, the shunt winding 23 of the contacto" 13 will he energized from the supply conductor 12 through a circuit including the 16, the switch member of he relay, right-hard relay contact 24 through the auxiliary switch 25 associated with the other direction contactor 14: to the ground return through the motor series field 11. The contactor 13 will thereby be energized to close and establish one path for the motor curcnt tor the forward direction of operation.

The closing: of the contactor 18 energizes series field 11 to the ground return. The closing; of the contactor 13 will open the lower contacts associated with this contactorr and the direction contactor 13 will he maintained closed by means of the series coil 26 despite vibrations of the relay 15 which would temporarily interrupt the circuit through the right-hand contact 24. The upper contacts of the other direction con- Ill tactor 14 will be maintained open and the lower contacts of this contactor will be magnetically held closed by means o'lthe winding 22 which is included in the motor circuit. Further, when the contactor 13 closes, the auxiliary switch 20 opens to deenergize the winding of the selector relay 15, so that this relay may not carry a current for this direction of operation after the relay has operated.

In order to accelerate the motor, the controller 1 7' will be advanced through its successiye operative positions toward the right to thereby short circuit step by step the sections of. the accelerating and speed regulating resistor 19. In order to stop the vehicle at the desired point in the forward direc tion, the controller 17 will be returned to its oil" position, including the motor armature in a local dynamic brake circuit includingthc lower contacts of. the direction contactors 13' and 14-.

Assume that it is now desired to operate the vehicle in the reverse or return direction, the controller 17 willbe advanced from the off position toward the left to its first operative position. thereby including the comparatively high resistance selector resister 18 in series with the supply conductor 12, so that the voltage of this supply conductor is materially less than the voltage of the source of supply. It will be understood that the winding of the relay 15 is normally connected to the supply conductor with the direction contactors open, so that a materially smaller current will now flow through the relay winding than wasthe case for forward vehicle operation. This relaywill thereupon be magnetically operated to bring its contact member into engagement with the left-hand" relay contact 27, and the winding of the relay will magnetically hold the contact members of the relay into engagement with this contact 27. The voltage of the supply conductor with the resistor 18 in circuit therewith is below the value at which the shunt winding 23.01? the forward direction contactor 13 will be energized to close the coutactor 13, and furthermore the relay 15 is designed so as to be quickly operated to thereby prevent the unintentional energization of the forward direction. contactor when it is desired that the reverse direction contactor 14 be energized to close.

With the contact member of the relay in engagement with the left-hand relay contact 27, the relay is in position to energize the shunt winding 28 of contactor ll when the controllerl? is advanced toward the left to its second operative position at which the selector resistor 18 is short circuited, thereby applying full supply circuit potential to the trolley wire 12'and energizing the shunt winding 28 ofthe reverse direction contactor 14 through a circuit including the trolle wire 12, trolley 16, switch member of th relay 15, contact 27, to the ground return through a circuit previously traced. The increased potential applied to the trolley wire 12 after the relay 1.5 has operated to make engagement with the contact 27 will. not cause this relay to return to. its normal position in engagement with the relay contact 24:, because of the fact that the relay will be magnetically held in the operated position after it has been operated to that position. The closing of the upper contacts of the contact'or A: will energize the motor through a circuit including the variable accelerating and speed controlling resistor 19, trolley wire 12, trolley 16, upper contacts of the contactor 1 1, through the series winding 29 of this contactor, through the motor armature in a direction the reverse of that previously established, through the winding 21 associated with the lower contacts of the contactor 13 and the series field ll. of the motor. After the contactor l l is energized to close, it will be maintained in the closed position by means or the series winding 29, and the upper contacts or the contactor 13 will be maintained in their open position by means of the winding 21 associated with the lower contacts of this contact-or. The cstal lished circuit through the motor is thus maintained despite the vibrations of the relay 15, which would tend to open the circuit through the shunt winding 28 of the contactor 14:. The closing of the contactor 14 causes the auxiliary switch 25 associated therewith to open and thereby open a circuit for the contactor13 to prevent the energization of this contactor when the contactor 14- is closed.

It will be observed that my arrangement has obvious features of simplicity, for the reason that the control of the selection. of the particular desired portion of the paths for the current from the single supply conductor is effected by means 01 a controller 17 which may be located at a point remote from the vehicle, and that after the particular path for the current has been selected and the direction of motor vehicle operation thus selected, the 8166(10]? operation oi the vehicle may be controlled by means of the same controller which governs the selection. The current which ell ects the desired selection and the current for operating the vehicle are all transmitted through the single supply conductor. he arrangement is such that the potential of the supply conductor is varied but never reversed. Assume that the potential of the source of supply is 250 volts. A typical arrangement which would operate in accordance witlrmy invention may be designed-as follows: The resistor 18 may be of such a value that when included in series with the supply: conductor 12, the

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resistor will limit the voltage of the supply conductor to such a: value that the voltage drop across the switch contacts of the electr c-responsive switch mechanism l3 and 14 is 125 volts. 'The current which will pass through the winding of the series loc r-out type selector relay 15 with a voltage of 125 applied to the winding thereof will be such that the relay will magnetically operate to make engagement through the left-hand contact 27' so as to energize the shunt winding 28 ot the direction contactor 1%. However, in case substantially full supply circuit voltage is applied to the supply conductor- 12, as would be the case when the controller 17 is turned from the oil position toward the right, the selector relay 15 will be energized so as to be magnetically held in its normal position, that shown in the drawings. Th direction contactors 13 and 14 may be designed so that for a 250 volt source of supply, the contactors will not be energized to close at a potential of less than 230 volts applied to the windings thereof. The direction contactors are thereby prevented from being energized to close until substantially the full source of supply potential is applied thereto In accordance with the provisions ofthe patent statutes, 1 have described the principle of operation of my in ention, together with the apparatus which now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have. it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 2- 1. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, switch contact mech anism for selecting adesired portion of a plurality of paths for the current from the said conductor, and electroresponsive means connected to be energized from the said conductor for magnetically holding the said switch mechanism in a position to select portion of the said paths when the initial potential of the said conductor is a pre determined valu and for magnetically operating); the said switch mechanism tol select another portion of the said paths when the initial potential of the said conductor is a different value.

2. The combination in a system o'l control of a supply conductor, a switch member for selecting either of two paths for the current i from said conductor, and electromagnetic means energized irom the said conductor for magnetically holding the said switch member in a position to select one 01" said paths and magnetically preventing the operation of the said switch member to select the other of the said paths when the potential of the said conductor is above a predetermined value, and for magnetically operating the said switch member to select the said other path when the potential of the said conductor is below a predetermined value. v

The combination in a system of control or a supply conductor, electromesponsive switch mechanism for establishing a selected of a plurality of paths from the said conductor, switch contact mechanism for selecting: the desired portion of said paths, and means operated responsively to tl alue of: current through the said conductor tor magnetically holdingthe said contact mechanism in a position to select a portion of the said paths from, the said conductor to be established when the initial current through the said conductor is a predetermined value and to magnetically operate the said switch mechanism to select an other portion of said paths when the initial current through the said conductor is a different value.

4t. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, electro-responsive switch mechanism. for establishing a selected portion of a plurality of paths from the 'connected to the said conductor and energized sponsively to the value of current through the said conductor for selecting the portion or the said paths to be established from the said conductor by the said switch mechanism.

5. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, electro-responsive switch mechanism for establishing? a selected portion oi plurality of paths from the said conductor, a series lockout type electro responsive device connected to the said conductor and energized responsively to the value of current through the said conductor for controlling: the said switch mechanism to select the said portion of the said paths to be established from the said conductor, and a controller having; a plurality of successive operative positions for limiting the value of current through the said conductor in an initial position thereot to control the said electro-responsive selector device and to regulate the current through the said conductor after the said electr c-responsive switch mechanism has established the selected portion of the said paths in other of the said positions of the said controller.

6. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, electro-responsive switch mechanism for establishing either one of two separate paths from the said conductor, a switch member biased to one position to energize the said switch mechanism from the 7 said conductor to establish one of said paths, and

electro-responsive means energized from the said conductor for magnetically holding the said switch member in the said position when the potential of the said conductor is above a predetermined value and for magnetically operating the said switch member to a second position to energize, the said switch mechanism to establish the second path when the potential of the said eonductor is below a predetermined value.

7. The combination in a selective system of control of a supply conductor, electroresponsive switch mechanism for establishing a selected portion of a plurality of separate paths from the said conductor, and an electro-responsive relay having a winding connected to the said conductor so as to be energized responsively to the potential of the conductor and a switch member operated under the control of the said winding for selecting the portion of the said paths from the said conductor to be established by the said switch mechanism, the arrangement being such that the said switch member is magnetically held in one position when the potential of the conductor is a predetermined value and magnetically operated to another position when the potential of the said conductor is a difierent value.

8. The combination in a selective system of control of a supply conductor, electroresponsive switch mechanism for establishing a selected portion of a plurality of separate paths from the said conductor, a series lockout type electro-responsive device connected to the said conductor and operated responsively to the potential of the conductor for selecting the portion of the said paths from the said conductor to be established by the said switch mechanism, a resistor for limiting the initial potential of the said conductor, a second resistor for governing the current through the selected portion of the said paths, and a controller having a plurality of successive operative positions for governing the first of said resistors in an initial position thereof to thereby control the said relay and for governing the said second resistor in other operative positions thereof.

9. The combination in a system of control oi a supply conductor, a switch contact mechanism for selecting apredetermined portion of a plurality of paths for the current from said conductor, electroresponsive means connected to be energized from the said conductor for magnetically holding the said switch mechanism in a position to select a portion of the said paths when the initial potential of the said conductor is a predetermined value and for magnetically operating the said switch member to select another portion of the said paths when the initial potential oi the said conductor is a different value, means for regulating the potential. of the said conductor, and soontroller having a plurality of operative positions for controlling the said means to vary the initial potential of? the said conduct-or and to regulate the current, in the path selected under the control of the said switch member. 7

10. A reversing control system for an electric motor comprising a supply conductor electro-responsive reversing switch mechz nism for connecting the motor to the said supply conductor for either the forward or reverse operation, an electroresponsive relay connected to the said conductor for controlling the said reversing switch mechanisn'i the said relay having means for operating the same responsively to the initial potential of the said conductor, a resistor for controlling the initial potential oi the conductor and a reversing con troller for controlling the said resistor and for regulating the motor after the reversing switch mechanism is operated.

11. The combination in a system of control of a single supply conductor, a plurality of separately actuated electro-responsive switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor, and means operated responsively to the initial drop of potential across the said switches for selectively controlling the energization oi the said switches from the said supply conductor.

12. lhe combination in a. system of control of a single supply conductor a plurality or separately actuated normally open electro-responsive switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor, and electromagnetic relay having a winding normally connected to be energized from the said conductor for selectively controlling the energization of the said switches from the said conductor responsively to the initial potential of the said conductor.

13. Th v combination in a system of control of single supply conductor, a pair of normally'open separately actuated electromagnetic switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor, switch member biased to one position to energize one of said switches from the said conductor, and electromagnetic means energized from the said conductor tor magnetically holding the said switch member in the said position when the potential of the said conductor is above a predetermined value and for magnetically operating the said switch member to a second position to energize the other electromagnetic switch when the potential of the said conductor is below a. predetermined value.

14:. The combination in a system of control of a. single supply conductor a plurality of separately actuated electro-responsive switches for controllingseparate paths from the said conductor, means operated responsively to the initial drop of potential across the said switches for selectively controlling the energization of the said switches from the said supply conductor, and a controller for predetermining the initial potential drop across the said switches.

15. The combination in a system of control of a single supply conductor, a plurality of separately actuated electro-responsivo switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor, means operated respon sively to the initial drop of potential across the said switches for selectively controlling the energization of the said switches from the said supply conductor, and a controller for predetermining the initial potential drop across the said switches and having means for regulating the current in the path closed by the energization of the particular switch thus selected. r

16. The combination in a system of control of a single supply conductor a plurality of separately actuated normally open electroresponsive switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor an electromagnetic relay having a winding normally connected to be energized from the said conductor for selectively controlling the energization of the-said switches from the said conductor responsively to the initial potential of the said conductor and a controller for predetermining the initial potential of the said conductor.

17. The combination in a system of control of a single supplyconductor, a plurality of separately actuated nor nally open electroresponsive switches for controlling separate paths from the said conductor, an electromagnetic relay having a winding normall connected to be energized from the said conductor for selectively controlling the energization of the said switches from the said conductor responsively to the initial potential of the said conductor, and a controller 101 predeterinining the initial potential of the said conductor and having means for regulating the current in the path closed by the energization of the particular switch thus selected.

18. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, means operated responsively to the potential of said conductor for controlling the selection of the desired portion of a plurality of paths to be established from said conductor and electrorcsponsive means energized responsively to the current in the selected portion oi the paths for maintaining closed the selected portion of the paths.

19. The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, means operated responsively to the potential 0t said conductor for controlling the selection of the desired portion 01 a plurality of paths to be established from said conductor switch mechanism controlled by the said means for establishing the portion of said paths selected, and electroresponsive means energized re sponsively to the current in the selected portion of the paths for holding the said switch mechanism closed.

20. The combination in system of control of a supply conductor, means operated responsively to the potential or said conductor for controlling the selection of the desired portion of a plurality of paths to be established from said condurtor electri 'esponsi switch mechanism having a shu opera ing winding controll d by said means for stablishing the portion of said paths se- "ected and a series winding included in the ortion of the paths selected for holding t J aid switch mechani. n closed.

21. The combination in a Sf/Sttllfiflli control oi": a supply conductor, switch contact mechaism for selecting a desired portion of a alurality of paths for the current from said oncnctor elcctroresponsire means connect d to be energized from said conductor for iagnetically holding the t id contact mech ism in a position to select portion of the aid paths when the initial potential of the lid conductors is a predetermined value and for magnetically operating the said mechanism to select another portion of the said paths when the initial potential oi the con ductor is a dillerent value and means energized rcsponsively to the current in the portion or" the paths selected for maintaining closed the selected portion of the paths.

22, The combination in a system of control of a supply conductor, switch contact mechanism for selecting a desired portion of a plurality of paths for the current from said conductor, electrorespo-nsive means connected to be energized from said conductor for magnetically holding the said contact mechanism in a position to select a portion of the said paths when the initial potential oi the said conductor is predetermined value and for magnetically operating the said mechanism to select another portion of the said paths when the initial potential of the said conductor is a difierent value electromagnetic switch mechanism having a shunt operating winding controlled by the said contact mechanism for establishing the portion of said paths selected and a series winding included in the portion of the paths selected for holding the said electromagnetic switch mechanism closed.

23. A reversing control system for electric motors comprising a supply conductor, a controller, electroresponsive reversing switch mechanism for connecting the motor to the said supply conductor for either direction or operation, and means under the con trol'ot' said controller and operated responsively to a value of current through the said conductor smaller than the motor operating current for controlling the energization of the said reversing switch mechanism.

24. It reversing control system for electric motors comprising a supply conductor, a controller, electro responsive reversing switch mechanism for connecting the motor to the said conductor for either direction of operation, and an electro-responsive selector relay responsive to variations of the potential applied to said conductor and under the control of the said controller for controlling the said reversing switch mechanism to control the direction of motor operation.

25. A reversing control system for electric motors comprising a motor supply conductor, a. reversing controller for closing a gap in the said conductor and for controlling the potential of the said supply conductor, electro-responsive motor reversing switch mechanism, and a selector relay operated responsively to the potential of the supply conductor for controlling the said switch mechanism.

26. A reversing control system for electric motors comprising a motor supply conductor, a resistor, a reversing controller operable in one direction from an off position to connect the said conductor to a source of supply through the said resistor and operahle in the other direction to connect the supply conductor to the source of supply with the said resistor excluded, electro-responsive motor reversing switch n'ieclianism and an electro-responsive selector relay operated responsively to the inclusion of the said resistor in circuit with the said supply conductor for controlling the said reversing switch mechanism.

27. A reversing control system for electric motors comprising a supply conductor, a controller, electroresponsive reversing switch mechanism for connecting the motor to the said supply conductor for either direction of operation, means under the control of said controller and operated responsively to a value of current through the said conductor smaller than the motor operating current for controlling'the energization of the said reversing switch mechanism, and electroresponsive means energized responsively to the current taken by the motor for maintaining the said reversing switch mechanism closed for the desired direction of motor operation.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of January, 1922.

JOHN EATON. 

